REFLECTIONS Measure thy life by loss and not by gain, Not by the wine drunk, but by the wine poured forth. For love's strength standeth in love's sacrifice, And he who suffers most has most to give. Lilias Trotter (1853-1928) Artist and Missionary to Algeria People often ask, How can I know that God loves me, that I too am saved, that I am a member of his redeemed family? The answer is that as long as you are looking inside yourself, you will have doubts. But as long as you are looking at Jesus on his cross, and seeing that event in the light of his resurrection, you can be assured that this was done for you too; that the story of God which encompasses wood, nails, and an empty tomb can become, and indeed must become, the basis and ground plan for the story of your life as well. N. T. Wright This is often the way God loves us: with gifts we thought we didn't need, which transform us into people we don't necessarily want to be. William Willimon from The God We Hardly Knew If I have the smile of God, all other frowns are inconsequential. Tim Keller
RIVERWOOD PRESBY TERIAN CHURCH T U S C A L O O S A, A L A B A M A November 11, 2018 11 :00 Ser vice Rev. J ef f Pa te, Pa stor Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Leaders In Worship: Assisting Elder Bob Prince Dr. Linda Graham, piano WELCOME Program all communication devices to be in silent mode. Thank you. PRELUDE Please use this time for prayer and meditation as we prepare to go before the living God in worship. P R A I S E CALL TO WORSHIP: from Psalm 107 Pastor: Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Pastor: Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. Pastor: Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD. Come, let us worship. HYMN OF PRAISE: 4 All Praise to God, Who Reigns Above PRAYER OF PRAISE AND THE LORD'S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen. 2
C O N F E S S I O N SCRIPTURE READING: Leviticus 19:17,18,33,34 17 You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your 18 neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the 33 34 Lord. When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! CORPORATE CONFESSION OF SIN: a Puritan prayer O Lover of the loveless, it is your will for me to love you with heart, soul, mind, strength, and my neighbor as myself. But I am not sufficient for these things. There is by nature no pure love in my soul; every affection in me is turned away from you; I am bound by sin and cannot love you, even as lovely as you are, until you set me free. But I praise you because by your grace, I am freed and enabled to serve you, for I believe you are my God in Jesus, and that through him I am redeemed, and my sins are forgiven. May your Spirit draw me nearer to you and your ways. Order my steps by your holy Word. Spirit of love, make me like the loving Jesus that I may shine before other people to your glory. The more your love accomplishes in me and through me, humble me all the more. Keep me meek, lowly, and always ready to give you honor. Amen. SILENT REFLECTION AND CONFESSION WORDS OF ASSURANCE & PEACE OF GOD: from 1 John 3 Pastor: See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. Pastor: And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. Pastor: The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. HYMN: Amazing Love (lyrics on page 6) 3
C O M M I T M E N T OFFERTORY PRAYER OFFERTORY Presentation of tithes & offerings DOXOLOGY (Hymnal, page 731) AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: The Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. RESPONSE: 735 Gloria Patri PRAYER OF INTERCESSION HYMN: 332 Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove 4
P R E A C H I N G O F T H E W O R D SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 3:14-19 14 15 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven 16 and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be 17 strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell 18 in your hearts through faith that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and 19 depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. SERMON: Our Trinitarian Hope Rev. Jeff Pate HYMN: 480 Come, for the Feast Is Spread st. 1,3 RESPONSIVE READING: Pastor: Pastor: Pastor: Pastor: C O M M U N I O N Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right for us to give thanks and praise. With joy we praise you, gracious God, for you created heaven and earth, made us in your image, and kept covenant with us even when we fell into sin. We give you thanks for Jesus Christ, our Lord, who by his life, death, and resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. Therefore we join our voices with all the saints and angels and the whole creation to proclaim the glory of your name. Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD S SUPPER Riverwood Presbyterian uses wine in the celebration of Holy Communion. If you would prefer non-alcoholic grape juice, please take a cup from the inner circle of the tray. HYMN: 529 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling BENEDICTION ANNOUNCEMENTS DISMISSING HYMN: 263 Lift High the Cross v. 4 5
1. My Lord, what love is this That pays so dearly; That I, the guilty one, May go free? Chorus: Amazing love, O what sacrifice, The Son of God giv n for me; My debt He pays and my death He dies, That I might live, that I might live. 2. And so they watched Him die, Despised, rejected; But, O the blood He shed Flowed for me. (Chorus) 3. And now this love of Christ Shall flow like rivers; Come wash your guilt away, Live again. (Chorus) Words and music by Graham Kendrick 1989 Make Way Music; CCLI license #11239744 A M A Z I N G L O V E T O D A Y A T R I V E R W O O D Covenant Kids Club is today at 4:30pm. Youth Groups also meet tonight (Junior High at 4:30pm and Senior High at 5:40pm). November 11 November 18 November 25 December 2 SUNDAY EVENING SCHEDULE Covenant Kids Club / Jr. & Sr. High Youth Dinner on the Grounds & We Give Thanks service Covenant Kids Club / Jr. & Sr. High Youth Covenant Kids Club / Jr. & Sr. High Youth / Vespers 6
HAPPY BIRTHDAYS November 12 Evan Holland November 12 Kevin Skelton A N N O U N C E M E N T S LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17; Psalm 127; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44 OFFICER MEETINGS The elders and deacons will meet this Wednesday, November 14 at 6:30pm in the Administration Building for their monthly meeting. EVENTS THIS WEEK Wednesday, November 14, 10:00am: Women s Bible Study (Admin Building) Wednesday, November 14, 3:30pm: Children s Catechism Wednesday, November 14, 6:00pm: Women s Bible Study (Lori Turner s home) Thursday, November 15, 6:30pm: Women s Bible Study (Admin Building) FLORIDA HURRICANE RELIEF The Wings of Grace Center has been selected to be a collection/distribution center for hurricane victims. The following items are needed: -Cleaning supplies (Clorox, Windex, Lysol, etc.) -Hand sanitizing wipes -Hygiene items (deodorant, shampoo, toilet paper, etc.) Bill and Terri Hibbard (Wings of Grace director) will take these items to Florida on November 16. Please bring your donations by November 14 to the Wings of Grace Center or give to Bruce and Mickey DeHaan. Thank you! DINNER ON THE GROUNDS & WE GIVE THANKS After church next Sunday, November 18, plan to join your Riverwood family for dinner on the grounds. Each family is asked to bring a stand alone meal that is enough for your family plus extra for sharing. We encourage the use of coolers to keep things cold or hot as refrigerator space is very limited and too many crock pots blow our circuit breakers! The church will provide plates, cups, cutlery, napkins, and ice. Join us as we break bread together. Riverwood s annual We Give Thanks service will directly follow the meal in the Fellowship Hall. MARK YOUR CALENDARS Saturday, December 1, 9:00am: Children s Christmas Craft & Fun Day Friday, December 7, 7:30pm: Riverwood Christmas Party 7
S U N D A Y S C H O O L At Riverwood Presbyterian Church we have Sunday School at 9:45am for all age groups. MEETING DOWNSTAIRS: Nursery: Multi-Staffed 2-3 year olds: Janalie Graham & Joanie Norris 4-5 year olds: Lorrie Pate MEETING UPSTAIRS: Grades 1-3: Greg & Sarah Vander Wal Grades 4-6: Tom & Elena Arnold MEETING IN THE BARN: Youth Class led by Jeff Pate MEETING IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL: Adult Class Beginnings: Studies in Genesis led by Jimmy Hopper MEETING IN THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING: Adult Class Radical by David Platt discussion led by Gene Martin M I N I S T R I E S O F S E R V I C E NURSERY VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE: November 11: Kristina Patridge / Heather Henson / Heather & Ceilidh Crawford / Quay Finch November 18: Elena Arnold / Joanie Norris / Darla & Savannah Cook / Meg Sigmon NOVEMBER DEACON SCHEDULE: Head Deacons: Chris Locklear & Bruce DeHaan Clean Up: Tom Arnold & Steve Patridge F I N A N C I A L R E P O R T 8 Through October 2018: Operating Income: $345,911.02 Operating Expense*: $372,328.86 Net Income: ($26,417.84) Designated gifts: $34,754.12 Building loan balance: $890,158.43 *Includes the minimum monthly building loan payment